School Governors- of value or just getting under everyone's feet?

[jennylamb1]

I've been a school governor for about 5 years. I've always enjoyed it previously because I feel as if I'm giving something back and I have had a lot of experience working in education so think that I can be useful in the role.The school also had a positive culture and the governing body were nice people.
Recently however, I have felt as if, particularly staff in the office, are unfriendly towards us, find us an encumbrance and that there is an atmosphere. Asking to borrow a stapler to prepare paperwork for a governors day seems to be really putting people out. I know that schools are under a huge amount of pressure, however we are giving our time voluntarily and looking to support the school. In speaking to teachers when preparing reports I always ask how we can help reduce workload and support wellbeing and look to follow up on their responses for instance.
Should I just give it up if not appreciated?

Not sure why you would be in the office?
former head, governor for 25 years

We gather there before starting the governors meetings or when preparing for a governors day.

Hmmm maybe from the point of view of the office staff.. you’re not really there to help them so they show little interest?

What’s a governors’ day? I’m a governor and ex teacher and I’ve never heard of one.

The issue is probably that you’re hanging out in their work space and getting in the way. Can you ask if there is a better place to wait? In my school they always used to hold meetings in my classroom and not tell we they were happening which was difficult as I liked to work at school until late and would have to vacate at short notice to another classroom and then I would realise I could really do with some thing in my classroom.

I feel your pain. I was a school governor for 9 years and I gave it up as I felt that a lot of effort was going in to 'pleasing' the governors - by which I mean getting refreshments for us, and preparing for our subject visits etc and really the poor staff were only just keeping their heads above water and I didn't feel that I was contributing to improving the place - but was more of an encumbrance when the staff should have been concentrating on the children.

I would say it's both.

Governors most likely get under people's feet when trying to do the day job but can still also be of huge value to the children and the community.

You are there for a very specific strategic reason. They pupils won't be aware or appreciative, so you will need to get your satisfaction from feeling you have been effective in your role, rather than thanks from staff.

I was a Governor for a few years (not now). The activity I didn't like were the walks around the school that we did 4 times a year. We visited each class and I felt so sorry for the teachers. Governors, some not working in education, watching the class. I know it was for strategic reasons but it didn't feel good from the teachers POV

Yes, we have a policy that governors don't comment on teaching which is fair enough. I've taught myself and hated observations, so I always say something positive about classroom displays or something like that if in a classroom.

I have been a governor and a Chair of Govs. I know the feeling you are describing. I think school staff often don't see the point of governors, I know my friend who is a primary teacher thinks they are a total waste of space! But the fact is that there is a statutory requirement for schools to have a functioning governing body, and for governors to be in school occasionally to monitor what is going on. It is an awkward dynamic and a big part of why I am no longer a governor - it is a hell of a lot of work and usually rather thankless. Even our HT, who DID understand the importance of governance could get rather frustrated and dismissive.

@Frowningprovidence puts it very well.

Yes, I thought so too

Yes, you do raise good points. Our recent governors day was on pupil wellbeing, so we asked the children a lot of questions about this. Staff just don't get the time to do this however pupil voice is really important I think. So I know that we help the pupils.
I don't know what office politics is going on.

In speaking to teachers when preparing reports I always ask how we can help reduce workload and support wellbeing

What did the Support Staff say when you asked them?

Did anybody suggest 'Not having Governors' Days'? or 'Not congregating before meetings in the school and asking for things whilst we're working'?

Did anybody suggest 'Not expecting us to give up anonymity and tell you exactly how crap it is doing unpaid overtime on TTO contracts on less than minimum wage whilst the Governors float around saying they're really concerned about Teachers' Wellbeing'?

Anyone in Support suggest 'Not informing us at every opportunity that you are doing this For Free'?

For our governors meeting I have to book a room, sort refreshments, prepare PowerPoint presentations, stay until 7:30pm whilst the meetings take place, then after the meetings read the 5 page long meeting minutes, answer questions and provide follow up documents.

Then 3/4 weeks later prepare day schedules for several different governors to visit the various key staff. Then read the reports afterwards.

Then 3/4 weeks later prepare for the evening meetings again and the cycle continues. It takes me hours. I know you are volunteers and you are fabulous but governors create about 2-3hours extra work a week for me, whilst working 50hrs a week.

My governors really are lovely, I am very lucky, but when I see the emails in my inbox with another 3 page report to read and questions to feedback on, when I have a 80 emails staring at me, a cover lesson, 3 teaching hours, a duty, a parental meeting and an after school meeting, I do quietly say 'arghhhh' to myself.

Are you the head or the clerk?
get a decent clerk

Then that is a part of your job and not an add on. If you are doing unpaid overtime then you need to raise that with your line manager, which is a different matter.

Unpaid overtime?

How to tell us you're not a teacher without telling us you're not a teacher...

(I say this as I head upstairs at 9:49pm Saturday evening to mark a pile of essays in my 'unpaid overtime'...)

The clerk to the governors should be preparing necessary paperwork and should have their own stapler. They shouldn't be using school office space to prepare that.

Pretty much all paperwork online these days.

I am a bit nervous of my governors, as lovely as they all are- head teacher says they are not our bosses but they kind of are, aren't they?

But we appreciate them and the pta, school coukdn't run without them.

Our chair of governors comes in once a week and hears readers. She is a marvel and by doing this gets a good view of how things are really working in the schoo.

Not really professional governance though.
Eyes on- hands off.

Why are you as a governor preparing any paperwork at all? Surely the responsibility of the HT/clerk. Do you not use something like Sharepoint or GovernorHub for paperless meetings?

And why do you all need to gather in the school office? Can't you just go straight to whichever room the meeting is being held in? Or wait outside the office?

I'm not surprised the office staff are a bit off with you!

WTF? Sounds like a great Chair!

No they're not. Their role is strategic. The operation of the school - including staff management - is the responsibility of the HT/SLT.